Spencer County Fiscal Court advances 2020-21 budget on first reading, approves bridge and FEMA repair contracts
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Summary
In a May 4 teleconference meeting, Spencer County Fiscal Court gave first reading to the 2020/21 budget, approved revised bridge and FEMA repair contracts, raised an EMS worker's pay to $11.50/hr and granted a private water-line placement; the court denied a $1,500 CASA request and reviewed an IAQ report for the county clerk's office.
Spencer County Fiscal Court met by teleconference on May 4, 2020, and approved a series of administrative and capital items including the first reading of the county's 2020'21 budget, contract awards for bridge and FEMA repair work, and personnel and right-of-way requests.
Judge Executive John Riley called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and the court completed routine business, including approval of prior meeting minutes. The court then moved to items of substance on the agenda.
The court approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 8 (the 2020/2021 budget). Judge Riley said the draft includes a $94,514.56 transfer from the asphalt line to the Elk Chase project and presented the revenue and appropriation schedules for the General, Road and Jail funds. Magistrate Jerry (Esq. J.) Moody voted "no" on the first reading, and the first reading passed with the remaining magistrates and the judge voting "aye." Magistrate M. Moody urged department-wide cuts in light of projected revenue shortfalls.
On infrastructure, the court approved a reduced-scope bid from All-terrain Paving and Construction (APC) to perform Hochstrasser Road bridge grade adjustments and repave approaches for $31,107.50 after QK4 engineers and county staff removed guardrail replacement from the package to meet budget constraints. QK4 engineer Eric Bean also recommended awarding the FEMA-funded Love Lane/Dutchman's Creek flood repair project to Todd Johnson Construction; the county approved the recommendation and the related contract prices, which QK4 determined fit FEMA funding.
Other actions:
- Personnel: the court raised EMS employee Milath Lawson's part-time pay to $11.50 an hour (motion passed unanimously). - Right-of-way: the court approved Murrell Lawson's request to install a private water line in a county easement on Creek View Drive (approved by voice vote). - Appointment: Annelle Hoene was appointed to a three-year term on the Spencer County Fire Protection District board (effective July 1, 2020). - Nonprofit request: the court denied a $1,500 funding request from CASA of the River Region to support its Spencer County program (vote unanimous). - Regional advocacy: the court authorized a letter of support for Bullitt County's KY 44 BUILD grant application to address congestion and safety issues on KY 44.
Public comment: Resident Roy Legaspi said citizens should retain public-comment rights even when meetings are remote and argued that levee commission costs should be proportionally charged to landowners who benefit most. Legaspi said "anybody who tries to censor the public was really in violation of civil rights." Judge Riley responded that he did not believe public comment rights were being violated and asked Legaspi to cite any statute requiring open public comment at Fiscal Court meetings.
The court also reviewed invoices and transfers before adjourning at 10:23 a.m.
Votes at a glance: - Approve April 20, 2020 minutes: motion by Esq. Travis, seconded by Esq. Brewer; roll-call vote: all "aye." - Approve April 23, 2020 minutes: motion by Esq. Brewer, seconded by Esq. M. Moody; roll-call: all "aye" except Esq. Travis who abstained. - Milath Lawson pay-rate increase to $11.50/hr: motion passed unanimously (roll call). - Murrell Lawson private water line on county right-of-way: approved by voice vote (all "aye"). - Hochstrasser Road bridge grade/repave contract (APC), $31,107.50: approved by roll-call vote (all "aye"). - Love Lane/Dutchman's Creek FEMA repairs: awarded as recommended (roll-call vote: all "aye"). - Ordinance 8 (2020/2021 budget) first reading: approved (ayes: M. Moody, Brewer, Beaverson, Riley, Travis; nay: J. Moody). - Ordinance 9 (2019/2020 budget amendment) first reading: approved (roll-call vote: all "aye"). - Annelle Hoene appointment to Fire Board: approved (all "aye"). - CASA funding request: denied (voice vote: all "aye").
What happens next: The budget and ordinance items will return for second reading/possible adoption per the county's schedule; pending projects recommended for award will proceed to contracting and construction steps consistent with the engineer's recommendations.
(Reporting note: quotes and vote tallies above reflect the official minutes and motions recorded in the May 4, 2020 Fiscal Court meeting.)